Failed asylum seekers escape deportation by 'throwing tantrums'

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Hundreds of failed asylum seekers escape deportation every year by throwing tantrums at the airport.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith revealed that 2,079 have been spared removal as a result of their "disruptive behaviour" in the past two years.

In each case, thousands of pounds had been spent detaining the bogus refugees, holding them in removal centres and arranging flights.

However, once they arrived at the airport to board their flight home, they behaved so erratically that airlines refused to take them for safety reasons.

They had to be returned to removal centres - plunging the Government attempt to reduce the backlog of 450,000 cases into chaos.

Miss Smith disclosed the figures in a letter to David Davis, the Shadow Home Secretary.

He said: "This latest shambles shows yet again this Government's incompetence in managing our immigration system."

Officials managed to remove only 18,280 bogus refugees last year but at the same time 20,700 more failed asylum seekers were added to those awaiting deportation - effectively increasing the backlog by 2,420,

Increasingly, the Government is relying on 'bribing' failed claimants to leave.

More than 5,300 of the refused applicants who left the UK last year did so after being handed up to £3,000 in cash and support under the Assisted Voluntary Return Programme.

The Home Office's record on removals for the start of this year has been poor.

There were 3,280 failed asylum seekers removed between April and June - down 38 per cent on the same period last year.

Home Office officials say the decline was due to officials concentrating on deporting foreign criminals.

Scroll down for more...

There were 3,280 failed asylum seekers removed between April and June - down 38 per cent on the same period last year